Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-03
DIR. PARKER ExoNERATED.
lie Says tre Trouble. was Due 10 e
Mistake.
New York Time4.1

4 meeting OF the Beecher Memorial
Fund Committee was held at the house
OF the Rev DIR. Charles Il. Hall. on Mon
tague street, Brooklyn, yesterday after
noon, ar> the Rev. DR.. Joseph Parker,
of London, explained his action in con-
nection with the proceeds of his euloRy
OF Mr.. Beecher at the Academy of Music
on October Eth. When DR.. Parker ar
rived IN the city on Wednesday he tele-
graphed DR.. Hall to call meeting of
the Memorial Committee st his house
yesterday afternoon at o'clock, and at
that hour most Of the members were pres
ent. DR.. Parker appeared, and for
nearly half an hour discussed the dispo-
sal of the money.
He said in the main that the whole af-
fair was a misunderstanding, caused pro-
baby by his own carelessness. While
in London he had supposed that all the
cablegrams on the subject of the Beeoher
memorial referred to the same time,
while in reality the committee had aban-
doned the project after the failure to get
DR.. Parker to come for June oath They
had nothing to DO with his visit in Octo-
Der. There was no explanation when
DR.. Parker arrived, and he supposed
the offer to pay his expenses WAS still
good
The explanation satisfied the majority
Of the committee that Dr. Parker had
labored under q mistaken idea all the
time. and DR.. Hall, Vice-President Hin
richs and several others said so. After
considerable discussion the following
resolution was adopted and n copy sent
to DIR. Parker AT the Everett House;
ResOlrcd, That che members of the
Statue-Fund Committee having heard
DR.. Parker upon the whole subject of
his visit to this country and as to the
payment of his expenses out of the pro-
ceeds of the Beecher eulogy, fully exone-
rate him from all blame in the matter.
All difficulties have arisen by reason of
Misunderstanding due to confusion IN the
multitude OF letters and cablegrams
that were sent to him from diffe-
rent sources. He was fully justified
in believing that such expenses
would be paid, and they have, in fact,
been paid by friend. The eulogy was
pronounced without compensation re-
ceiyed by DR.. Parker, and the committee
take this opportunity of extending to
him their thanks for his splendid tribute
10 the memory Of Mr.. Beecher. They
further express their unqualified belief
that in all the circumstances connected
with the eulogy DR.. Parker has con-
Quoted himself as an honorable gentle
man and q Christian teacher.
At Plymouth church last night there
was a hastily called meeting of members
of the church and society in the parlors
OF the church. Deacon Pratt presided,
and there were present s. Y. White,
Pastor Halliday, DR.. Brush, w. G.
Beecher, ThomasG. Sherman, 7. G. Til
ney, John r. Howard, and half a dozen
ladies. The main feature of the meeting
was the action of $. V. White, who re-
Gently wrote a letter condemning Dr.
Parker and alleging that Plymouth
church would be made too hot for himif
he would ever return. Mr.. White with
drew that language amid much applause,
and expressed his pleasure at hearing
that the hard feeling between DR.. Parker
and the Monument Committee had been
explained away,
Mr.. Sherman also spoke renewing
his offer to reimburse the committee for
the 800 claimed by DR.. Parker, and
several other members spoke briefly.
The reading of the resolution adopted
by the Monument Committee by Mr..
Halliday brought outapplause, and a set
of resolutions congratulating DR.. Parker
upon the satisfactory conclusion of the
disagreeable sfair was adopted. The in
vitation to him to preach on Sunday
next was renewed, and a project TO give
him a rousing reception on some evening
OF the coming week was set in motion.
Mr.. Halliday was instructed TO take
charge OF the affair, fix the date, and
attend to all the details.